Artificial Endocrine Pancreas: This is an apparatus constantly measuring the glucose (sugar) level in the blood and, according to results, releasing the amount of insulin needed by the body at different moments. It is a large and important piece of machinery, also known as the "artifical beta-cell".

Beta Cell Transplantation: Trasplantation of islet cells.

Biosynthetic Human Insulin: This is a synthetic insulin very similar to that produced in the body. These insulins have been available since October 1982.

Biphasic Insulin: A kind of insulin that is a mixture of 70% intermediate insulin with 30% rapid-acting insulin.

Blood Glucose: The amount of freely-circulating glucose in the blood. Its normal values are around 80 - 120 Mg/dL. Blood Sugar

Blood Glucose Meter: This machine helps determine the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. A specially-lined ribbon containing a sample of recently obtained blood is inserted into the Meter; the meter then calculates the correct level of glucose in the blood sample and gives the resulting figure. Some of these meters include a memory that stores the results of multiple tests.

Blood Glucose Monitoring: A way of controlling the glucose level of the blood. It consists of a special ribbon of paper that receives a drop of blood to be tested. The ribbon contains a reagent that changes color according to the amount of glucose present. The diabetic can determine if his glucose level is low, high or normal in two different ways. The first is by visual comparison of the color on the tip of the ribbon with a color chart printed on one side of the test ribbon package. The second way, preferred by some people, is by using a meter. The ribbons are inserted in this machine, which reads the correct level of glucose in the blood. Blood tests are better than urine tests for monitoring levels of blood glucose.

Desensitization: A method to reduce or stop a response such as an allergic reaction to something. For example, if the diabetic suffers an adverse reaction from a complete dose of bovine insulin, the doctor will prescribe a very small quantity of insulin to begin with. Over time, this will be gradually increased until the diabetic receives the full dose. This is a way of accustoming the organism to the full dose and thus avoiding allergic reaction.

Dialysis: A method to eliminate waste products, such as urea, from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do this. There are two kinds of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In hemodialysis a person is connected to a machine (sometimes known as an "artifical kidney") that purifies the patient's blood by slowly circulating it through a system of tubes and filters.

Diuretic: A medicine increasing the urine flow in order to eliminate excess liquid retained by the organism.

Double-Voided Urine: The urine sample collected 30 minutes after complete micturition. This second sample is tested to determine the amount of glucose (sugar) present in order to check the control level closer to analysis time. The sample thus obtained is also known as second voided urine.

Exchange Lists: Food groupings that help people stick to their special diets. In each group, equivalent helpings of each type of food are indicated. A helping from one group can be exchanged for a helping from another group. The lists divide the groups into six categories: (1) starch/bread, (2) meat, (3) vegetables, (4) fruit, (5) milk and (6) fats. Within each of the food groups a portion contains approximately the same quantities of protein, carbohydrates, fats and calories.

Fasting Blood Glucose Test: A method to determine the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The test may indicate if the individual has diabetes. A doctor or lab assistant takes a blood sample (usually in the morning before breakfast because 8 hours have elapsed since the last meal). If blood glucose is within normal limits, the level will be 70 to 110 Mg/dL (according to the type of blood tested). If the level is above 140 Mg/dL, this generally indicates the individual suffers diabetes (except in the cases of newborns and some pregnant women).

First-Voided Urine: The first urine voided after a long time, for example, on waking.

Foot Care: Diabetics must give their feet special care because the reduced blood flow means that foot sensitivity will sometimes be subnormal. If they do not check their feet regularly they might not observe small cuts or other problems in time to give them treatment.

Fractional Urine: The urine collected by a person during certain times over a period of 24 hours; generally from breakfast to lunch, lunch to dinner, dinner to bedtime and bedtime to rising time the following day. It is also known as "block urine".

Fundus of the Eye: The posterior or deep part of the eye; it includes the retina.

Funduscopy: Observation of the fundus to check on damage to blood vessels supplying the retina. In this case, the physician uses an ophthalmoscope.

Glucose Tolerance Test: A test to determine if a person suffers from diabetes. It is done in a lab or consulting room in the morning before breakfast. A previous blood sample is taken, then the individual drinks liquid containing glucose (sugar). Thereafter, tests are done at regular intervals to show how the organism is metabolizing blood glucose over time. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test [OGTT]

Glycemic Response: The effect of different foods on glucose (sugar) levels in blood over time. Researchers have discovered that there are foods that could increase the levels of glucose in the blood more than others that contain the same amounts of carbohydrates.

Glycosylated Hemoglobin Test: A blood test that measures the average level of glucose (sugar) in the blood of an individual compared with his levels 2 or 3 months before the test.

Hemodialysis: A blood-purifying technique used in kidney disease.

Home Blood Glucose Monitoring: The way a person can control his or her blood glucose (sugar) level. Another term for this is Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring.

Immunosuppressive Drugs: These drugs block the body's capacity to fight infections. They are given to kidney or pancreas transplantees to prevent their body from rejecting the new organ or tissue.

Injection Site Rotation: This is the regular changing of application sites of insulin shots, avoiding the formation of small hollows or lumps in the skin (lipodystrophies). It is a good idea to keep a written record of injection sites so as not to repeat them too frequently to avoid this problem.

Injection Sites: These are places in the body where it is easiest to inject insulin. They are:
      - The outside of the upper arm.
      - The waist and areas slightly above and below it, including a two-inch radius
        area around the navel.
      - The upper part of the buttocks, just behind the hip.
      - The front part of the thigh, from the center to the side and from 4 inches
        below the root of the thigh to 4 inches above the knee.

Insulin Pump: A device manufactured with the purpose of constantly pumping insulin into the body at a low (basal) rate. A plastic tube is attached to the body and injects its contents subcutaneously via a small needle. The pump keeps insulin levels steady between meals. Before eating, the diabetic indicates the dose (bolus) of insulin indicated at that time by pressing the appropriate buttons. The pump is powered by batteries. It is used by insulin-dependent diabetics.

Islet Cell Transplantation: The transfer of beta (islet) cells from the pancreas of a donor to that of a person whose pancreas has ceased to produce insulin. The beta cells produce the insulin needed by the organism to use the glucose (sugar) as energy. Although in the future islet cell transplant could help diabetics, this procedure is still in an experimental stage.

Jet Injector: An instrument using high pressure to propel insulin through the skin and into tissues.

Laser Treatment: The use of a strong beam of special (laser) light to treat damaged areas. Diabetics could be treated by laser to cure bleeding capillaries in their eyes. Photocoagulation.

Lente Insulin: An intermediate -action type insulin

Meal Plan: A guide to regulate the intake of calories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Diabetics can use devices such as the equivalence listings or the Points System to program their meals and control their illness.

Mixed Dose: The combination of two kinds of insulin in one injection. Usually the mixed dose is a mixture of simple, rapid effect, insulin with another prolonged action variety, such as isophanic (NPH) insulin. For long and short-term protection, a combined insulin regime may be prescribed.

NPH Insulin: An intermediate-action type insulin.

OGTT: English acronym for the oral test of glucose tolerance: Oral glucose tolerance test.

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Pills or capsules taken to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels. They function when the pancreas still produces some insulin. These pills help the organism in various ways, for example by helping pancreatic cells release more insulin.

Pancreatectomy: Medical procedure of pancreas extirpation.

Pancreatic Transplant: An experimental procedure consisting of the replacement of a diabetic pancreas with a healthy insulin-producing pancreas. This may come from a donor who has just died, or from a living family member who can donate half his or her pancreas and still have enough insulin production for own requirements.

Peritoneal Dialysis: This is a way of cleansing the blood in kidney disease patients. In peritoneal dialysis, a special solution is run through a tube to the peritoneum, the thin membrane lining the abdominal cavity. Wastes are collected and eliminated. This is done in the hospital. The ambulatory ongoing peritoneal dialysis technique (CAPD) allows this to be done at home. Both of these techniques can be used for treatment of diabetics presenting kidney disease.

Photocoagulation: This is a main treatment option in diabetic retinopathy, using a laser beam to seal bleeding vessels, such as eye capillaries. It is also used to cauterize unwanted vascularization in the eye.

Points System: A method of programing diet using points to qualify different foods. These are divided into four categories: calories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Each type of food is assigned a points value within its own category. In daily meal and snack diets, food pertaining to the same category with equivalent point value is interchangeable.

Postprandial Blood Glucose: In healthy individuals, glucose peaks 1 or 2 hours after eating.

Purified Insulin: Insulin with much less impure proinsulin. It is considered that the use of purified insulin can help avoid or reduce some of the problems of diabetics, such as allergic reactions.

PZI [Protamine Zinc Insulin]: A prolonged action type insulin.

Reagents: Ribbons or tablets used to measure the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood and urine or the level of acetone in the urine. These reagents have been treated with chemical products and change color during measurement. Each type of reagent has its own color code to indicate the amount of glucose or acetone present.

Regular Insulin: A quick-acting type insulin.

Second-Voided Urine: The urine sample taken 30 minutes after complete micturition. The sample thus obtained is also known as double voided urine.

Segmental Transplantation: A surgical procedure consisting of the transfer of a section of pancreas containing insulin-producing cells to a diabetic whose pancreas no longer produces insulin.

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose: This is the way a person can determine the amount of glucose (sugar) in his or her blood. It is also called home glucose monitoring.

Semilente Insulin: A quick-acting type insulin

Spilling Point: This is when blood contains so much of a substance such as glucose (sugar) that the kidneys let the excess spill over, to be eliminated in the urine. Renal threshold.

Split Dose: The splitting of the daily prescribed insulin dose into two or more injections administered over the day. This is also known as "multiple injections". Many insulin-using diabetics consider that the split dose gives a more uniform control over blood glucose levels.

Twenty-Four Hour Urine: The total amount of urine from an individual over a 24 hour period.

Ultralente Insulin: A prolonged-action type insulin

Unit of Insulin: The basic measurement unit for insulin. Insulin U-40 means 40 units of insulin per one (1) milliliter (mL) or cubic centimeter (cc) of solution. Insulin U-100 means 100 units of insulin per milliliter or cubic centimeter of solution. U-40, U-100 (U-40, U-100)

Urine Testing: This is the urine test to determine if it contains glucose (sugar) and ketone bodies. If the latter appear in the urine it is an indication of serious disease.

Vitrectomy: The extraction of the gel from the center of the eyeball, because it contains blood and scar tissue that cloud vision. The ophthalmic surgeon replaces the cloudy gel with a transparent liquid.